Swimming appliance.



Patented Aug. 27-, 1918.-

\ INVENTOR \POI'll II flung,

WITNESSES MM ATTO R N EY rxaianr OFFICE.

persev re-Yates, or shitrh s its-ANA, CALIFORNIA; hssIeNoR or oNE-i'mLFio MICHAEL, oF-rU-LnER'ron, ohmrozaivm.

swntnvrme APPLIANE.

To-gl lahomitmay camera- 7 .Be it known art, Poms J. YpUNG, a

United e r s due a citizen of the sates-team, in he county of veata aah'a state tr California, hat in nted certain new ahdnseful Improvements in Appliances, which the following is a specification.

The'pre'se'nt invention is a device for use by a swimmer'who is partly supported by the oatahdprovi'd'ed with means for propelling himself or herself through the water, and the object of thesarne s op-r iice such a device which .isextreniely' simple and light, easy of applica remand readily understood and-operated by anyone without previous experience. I j 1 This and other objects are accomplished by constructing the device in the manner hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and as shown in the drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of this appliance complete,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same show ing how it is applied to the human figure,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail on the line 3'3 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings the numeral 1 designates a float which may be a piece of board or the like, or a flat element made buoyant in any suitable way as by being of metal and made hollow, and 2, 2 are shoulder straps or hooks secured to the front end of the float as shown, while 3, 3 are straps secured at 4 to the edges of the float at its rear end and adapted to be drawn across the back and buckled as at 5. If desired, the float may be provided with a pneumatic pad 6, made preferably in the shape of the letter U as indicated and preferably secured upon the float by means of straps 7 or other fastening devices, and when inflated this pad not only sustains the weight of the user but presents a rather soft cushion between his or her body and the upper face of the float itself. The pad may be blown up by suitable means, such as the nipple N, and the pad may be of some light and soft material so long as the general idea is carried out.

The numeral 11 designates an extension which is not so wide as the float, and whose forward end extends into a slot 10 at the rear of the float and is pivotally mounted therein on a transverse bolt 12. As seen in swimming Specificationof Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 27,1918- Application fiIed MaIch 22, i Serial 1 Vo.j2 24,0 22.

can be removed and replaced when desired.

T m's e aragleer t e extension 11 to the float lfc'an be adjusted bytemeving this bolt aaa "re-arrangin the washers 15. In Fig. 3 one of these washers isshown above and vthr e-benea'th the tongue 13, st that the generai position of the extension 11 is one of inclination downward, as will be seen. Different operators or users may desire the angle of the two main parts adjusted, and this detail permits such adjustment, while at the same time it permits a certain amount of flexibility because the washers 15 will probably be of soft rubber.

Disposed within a slot 20 near the rear end of the extension 11 is an upright power gear 21, mounted on a crank shaft 22 having pedals 23 at its extremities. In mesh with the driving gear 21 is a bevel pinion 24 at the forward end of a driven shaft 25 mounted. in suitable bearings 26 beneath the extension 11 and carrying at its rear end a propeller 27; and 28 is a wire guard inclosing this propeller so that the operator may not injure himself thereon and so that the propeller may not drag on the bottom when the water is shallow.

The operation is quite obvious from Fig. 2. The float being strapped upon-the chest and stomach of the user, the extension projects between the limbs and is preferably made narrow so as not to interfere with their movement. The proper adjustment of the extension 11 to the float 1 is attained by the position of the washer 15 as above suggested. Now the user puts his feet on the pedals 23, and by revolving the driving wheel in the proper direction the propeller 27 is caused to rotate rapidly within the water, leaving the operator meanwhile at liberty to use his or her arms to assist the propelling and perhaps to leaen swimming. With the beginner, the pad 6 may be used and inflated to a considerable extent, and

from time to time the air may be let out of this pad so that eventually the operator is assisted only by the float, and then the pad can be entirely removed. In this way swimming can be taught, and in rough waters the device will be useful to those who know how to swim. The parts may be made in sizes for adults and children, but usually I find that the float 1 will constitute a body portion which may be made in standard sizes and an extension 11 of proper length may be fitted thereto according to the height of the operator or user. Otherwise the details of parts are hardly essential.

What is claimed as new is 1. In a swimming appliance, the combination with a body-float having a notch in its lower end, a narrow extension whose upper end projects into said notch and whose V extremity is formed into a reduced tongue,

tion of said extension; of a pivotal connection between the extension and float near the lower end ofthe latter, plates secured to the tongue, a bolt through the plates and tongue, and a series of washers strung on said bolt above and below the tongue and selectively disposed to alter the angle of the extension to the float.

2. In a swimming appliance the combination with a. body-element forked at its lower end, a narrower element extending into said fork and pivoted between the fork-arms near their lower extremities, and propelling mechanism carried by the lower portion of said narrower element; of plates carried by the body element above and below the upper extremities of said extension element, and compressible members selectively disposed above and below said extremity for adjust ingthe-angle of the two elements to each other, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature .in presence of two witnesses. and propelling mechanism at the lower por- PORUS J. YOUNG.

Witnesses:

STILLWELL W. MGMIGHAEL,

-CHARLES C. KINSIER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents 'each,'by addressing the "Commissioner of Iatenta,

Washington, D. G. 

